The Pitt News
T h e i n d e p e n d e n t s t ude nt ne w spap e r of t he U niversity of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | march 28, 2019 | Volume 109 | Issue 130
UNIVERSITY SENATE DISCUSSES FREE SPEECH AT ANNUAL PLENARY
PROTESTING IN SILENCE
Maureen Hartwell Staff Writer
onstration. It included both BAS members and others, mostly students. Among the non-members were Dean of Students Kenyon Bonner, who was at the WPU for a University Senate plenary but stopped by the scene of the die-in several times, and Student Government Board President
In a week filled with protests and demonstrations in the wake of Michael Rosfeld’s acquittal, the University Senate convened to hold its annual plenary session focused on “Free Speech in the Modern University.” Chris Bonneau, the president of the University Senate, said the plenary session is an annual gathering of University faculty and staff to discuss a topic of mutual interest. Each year, the University Senate selects a new, pertinent issue on campus. This year’s plenary session, held from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, hosted Sigal Ben-Porath from the University of Pennsylvania as the keynote speaker. As a professor of education, political science and philosophy, Ben-Porath discussed the content of her book “Free Speech on Campus.” “Professor Ben-Porath and her keynote have given us some things to think about,” Bonneau said. “Are our policies effective? What can we do better to promote an atmosphere of free speech and inclusivity?” Ben-Porath said although universities globally have become increasingly diverse, a significant portion of students maintain stagnant political ideologies.
See Die-In on page 3
See Free Speech on page 2
Students gathered outside the William Pitt Union on Wednesday afternoon to hold a silent and peaceful die-in demonstration in support of Antwon Rose II’s family. The demonstration lasted 40 minutes and drew approximately 120 participants. Sarah Cutshall | visual editor
120 JOIN ‘JUSTICE FOR ANTWON’ DIE-IN ON WPU STEPS Emily Wolfe
carried the names of black police-shooting victims. Unlike other protests that have A crowd dressed overwhelmingly in taken place throughout the City over the black sat on the steps of the William Pitt past week, this one — a die-in in honor of Union shortly before 1 p.m. Wednes- Antwon Rose, organized by Pitt’s Black Acday. More stood nearby. Some signs read tion Society — was completely silent. The assembly grew as some students “Hands up, don’t shoot” or “Since when has blackness become a crime?” while others got out of class and joined in, numbering about 120 for most of the 40-minute demAssistant News Editor